Method for operating a battery of retorts



May 21, 1929-4 M. J. TRUMBLE 1,713,794`

METHOD FOR OPERATING A BATTERY4 OF RETORTS Filed Feb. l, 1926 `Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 2l, 19219.l

UNITED- STATES Miron. J.' TRUMBLE, OFALHAMBRA, cAmFomiIA.

METHonaon onEnA'rING A BATTERY oF- amours.

lappnmion mea rebruaiy 1, 192e. semi Np, 55,132.

- The general character of my present vinvention being indicated by the above title, I may state, at the outset, that this invention relates to the treatmentof shale, or the` like, in the general man-ner kset forth in my pending application,v Serial No. 648,366,

filed June 28th, 1923, and somewhat more completely set forth in luy-subsequent' application, Serial No. 751,865, filed Novem-v bei 24th,*1924.-

This invention relates particularly to the treatment of shale with .superheated steam,

orthe like, in separate retorts arranged for cyclical operation, one' retort of a set being discharged and recharged at a timefwhen another retort is undergoinga inishingoperation, intermediate `retortsbeing in intermediate c'onditions, or temperature phases, and a common vapor outlet being so provided andA connected as continuously to re ceive all or'a part of the recovered values ;v

and it is an'especial object of this invention,

- by dividing a complete set-of retorts into subgroups, 'and providing suitable connec-'L tions thereto, therebetween, and therefrom, toeti'ect important-economies yin the use of superheated steam, or the like, in the recovery of hydrocarbon products from oilbearing shale's, lignites, or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide' shale treating equipment and-methods inV which subgroups of-retorts, such as sub' groups each comprising two or threeor four retorts, may be very closely interconnected in various arrangements, each such-sub- .a Y

vgroup being provided with a superheater,

and the separate retorts and groups being so interconnected that any given quantity or charge of superheated steam, or the like,

may pass, as from a steam boiler, first through a suitable superheater, then successively through the retorts of a single subgroup, not charged in immediate succession, then through another superheaten'j then through the 'retorts of another subgroup,

finally issuing, with evolved and entrained f values, into a vapor main,-said vapormain being connected, directly o r indirectly (and with or without the interposition of powergenerating .mea-ns, as described inimy prior applications)` into a dephlegmator or into other means for the recovery of values there-` from. v Y' 'It is a speciticobject of my invention to provide with A a method wherein, using an organization of the general character re-P ferred to, and preferably interposing an oil catcher in advance of some or all of the mentionedsuperheaters, an entire series or set of retorts adapted .for cyclical operation -may be interconnected in a great variety` of' alternative ways and so that any retort in the entire set may be the'first to receive agiven fresh charge of superheated steam,A

such steamv passing 'successively through subsequent retorts .in a unique yand orderly manner, as hereinafter described, favorable to a conservation of heat.

Itis an object of this invention to provide an'` improved method whereby .a quantity of Y V 1,713,794 vPA'ralv'r oFFlcE-.p

steam introduced into any one retort of a I complete set or` battery of retorts maybe economically utilized in obtaining values vfrom all the retorts of the complete set, each quantity of steam being so heated and reheated as at alltimes toremain above its boiling point, under the given conditions of operation. v

The steam is preferably initially superheated to a preferred high temperature,'car ried through several retorts constituting a subgroup serially connected (but not conlsecutively charged)` again superheated only.

after it has p'assedthrough all of said retortsy constituting a subgroup, then carried through another subgroup,'fsimilarly interconnected but as yet heated only to a lower` temperature, then through another su'perheater, and so on,-the reheating 'of the steam being, in each case, preferably ef.- fected only after it has undergone-agreater drop of temperature than thatwhich has heretofore resulted from passing steam through a single retort, asfused in the processes set forth in my habove mentioned prior applications. kept at all times above the tempelature at The steam is, as mentioned,

which condensation of water. mitht occur, v 4

in which, a complete'set of retorts bemg divided into like subgroups, the 'charging of a vspective superheaters subsequent to an op-v l first retort of a first subgroup is followed by a charging of the first retort of a second subgroup, then by the charging of a first retort of a third subgroup (if any) etc., including acharging of a first retort of the last subgroup. This is followed by the charging of a second retort in each sub-` group, then by the charging ofa third retort in each subgroup (if any) and by a charging of a fourth retort (if any) in each subgroup, etc., until all retorts are charged.

'The rise in temperature in the respective retorts is divided.

It is, in brief, an object of my invention to provide means facilitating a changing of the interconnections between retorts arranged in subgroups and associated in the general manner above and hereinafter' set forth, and so that each retort shall pass successively through a series'of phases of the general character indicated in an accompanying diagra1n,-the highest temperature being employed in that retort which may be in its finishing phasefandinto which a new quantity of steam is first introduced) and each newly'charged retort being .arranged initially toreceive vapor-laden steam which has previously (but not consecutively) passed through earlier-charged retortsof the same set or battery and through interposed restorative means, for a partial removal of entrained hydrocarbons and "or a partial or complete .restoration of Itemperature. v

Other-objects of my invention may be best appreciated from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof,` taken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in

which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a complete set or battery of retorts as subdivided into four subgroups, with three retorts in veach subgroup, parts being` broken away. c f

Fig. 2 is a temperature diagram showing the general situation, as to temperature, in

,a battery such asis represented in Fig, 1,

at the end of a cycle in which, all retorts of' the battery having been successively charged (in the order inwhich 'their numbers appear in this figure) the 'first retort is in its finishing phase. Figs. 1 and 2 are thus simultaneous, the former showing structural relationships and the latter showing thermal relationships; but the latter may be read also with reference to the cycle of any one retort.

Referring to the details of that specific embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig, 1, retorts 1 to 12 inclusive being shown as comprising four subgroup's (retorts 1, 2

and 3 being hereinafter referred to as constituting group A, retorts 4, 5 amd 6 being hereinafter referred to as constituting group B, retorts 7, Sv and 9 being hereinafter' referred to as constituting group C, and retorts 10, 11 and 12 being hereinafter referred to as constituting group D) 13 'may be aAV steam line connected with any suitable source ofsupply, asa steam boiler suggested fragmentarily vat 14; and the steam line 13 may be connected, as by separate valvedv diagraminatically a vapor main or line 18,-

which may be carried to a motor and deplilegmator 19 or to any other suitable apparatus for the utilization of its energy orv the recovery of its values. Each of the re- 'spective retorts is provided with a valved inlet pipe 21-32 inclusive, the superheated steam delivery pipe 17, being shown as provided with valv'ed branches 21a', 22a, and 23a,

leading respectively to inlet pipes 21, 22 and 23 of retorts 1, 2 and 3, the steam 'delivery pipe; 17 being provided with Valve branches 24", 25.b and 26 leading' respectively to inlet pipes24, 25 and 26 of retorts'4, 5 and 6, the steam delivery pipe 17 being provided with valved branches 27C, 28c and A29c leading respectively to inlet pipes 27,28

and 29 of retorts 7 8 and 9, and the steam delivery pipe 171 being provided with corresponding branches 30d, 31d and 32d leading respectively to inlet pipes 30, 31 and 32 of retorts 10,11 and 12,

In order that a charge of superheated steam introduced into ,any one of the described retorts -may passtherefrom through the remaining retorts of the same subgroup, and from the last of these, retorts either into one of the pipes 33a, 33h, 33 or 33".-v leading toward the respective super-heaters ;16, '16, 16d or 16a' (or, in the case of its delivery from a retort in its finishing phase,

into the mentioned vapor line 18) I may provide the outlet pipes 41-52 inclusive,-

of the respective retorts with valved interconnecting returns 61-72, inclusive, andalso with valved delivery branches 81-92, inclusive, leading into the vapor main 18, as

Well as with valved interconnections 101-l cessively charged with an appropriate shale" or other carbonaceous material capable of 10. yielding hydrocarbon vapors; and,l to simplify the reading of' the accompanying drawings, `I have shown those valves which might be simultaneously opened during the finishing phase of the treatment of a batch of shale, or the like,'in retort 1 as disposed longitudinally of the pipes in which they are interposed the remaining l valves l (shown in solid black) lbeing transversely disposed.

In order to avoidsubjecting all the hydro- -carbons escaping from the respective retorts with .the introduced steam repeatedly and unnecessarily to the high temperatures of thel superheaters 16a-tr1 I may provide, at

suitable points in the'respective superheater feed pipes BBM-33d. inclusive, oil catchers i 118, 113", 113 and 1131; and, if desired, the

respective subgroups (A, B, C, D) may be veach surrounded by practically continuous $0 insulation, somewhat as indicated by dotted- 'flines 41141 and .,115,-'-only' the route-controlling valves and the respective feed-openings and exit openings (not shown) of the respective retorts being exempt from or exter- 15 nal to the mentioned insulation; and, if dei sired, in order that after the inlet ends (as, the upper ends) of the respective retorts are heated to a. comparatively high tempera' ture, steam may be admitted to the,` cooler `4,0 parts (as, thecentral parts) ofthe respective retorts, some or all of the inlet pipes 21-31, inclusive, to the respective retorts `may be provided with valved shunting p `feed pipes, such as are shown at 116. Instead-of charging the described retorts in the order of-their consecutive numbering,

assuming that a given quantity of super-v heated steam is to be passed through the retorts of one subgroup, then through an oil catcher and a superheater and into one of the retorts of a second subgroup (passing therefrom through another superheater, and continuing thus until delivered from -alast retort of a lastsubgroup into the main 18,

i 5ay `or its equivalent) it is essential, tothe practice of my invention, that the mentioned refitorts be successively-charged and discharged in\a sequence different from that of their \f consecutivev numnering,-the charging of a frstretort in yarrst subgroupl being follotwed by the charging ofra first retort in a second subgroup, then by the charging' of a'lirst retort inl a third subgroup, etc. until one retort in each subgroup has been charged.

Thereafter, avsecond retort of the lirst subto be'divided into subgroups in the manner group is charged, a second retort of the second subgroup, etc., continuing until ,a second retort in each of the subgroups has been charged. Thereafter a third retort (if there is such) is charged in each of the mentioned 70 subgroups, this Inode of charging being continued until all of the retorts are charged,

the first retort of the first subgroup being then i'n itshottest'or inishi'ng'phaseand the superheated steam admitted there.A Abe- 7 ing passed through successive retorts inthe manner indicated bythe 'dispositionbr the valves shown in Fig. 1,-the Steam and` evolved and entrained and cracked andliydrogenajted hydrocarbon products being inallydelivered into the. main 18 through the valved delivery branch 92, or its equiva Thus, assuming a battery of '12 retorts 'suggested above, the retorts-having been charged in the following order,-1, 4, 7, 10; 2, 5, 8, 11; 3, 6, 9, l2, steamadmitted to retort 1, inits finishing phase,- may pass through the remaining retorts and the interv vposed superheaters inthe following 'se quence: 1,2, 3; S, 4, 5, 6; S, 7, 8, 9;' S, 10, 11, 1 2;v and the thermalv relationships then subsisting within the respective retorts may be substantially as indicated in Fig. 2.

That'is to say, eachof the retorts being in a different phase (assuming,'for thes'ake of simplicityv of explanation, thateach inishing phase may be regarded as including a brief charging and discharging phase) the 109 Atemperature within retort l, to which a fresh quantity of steam is directly admitted from superheater 16d (and presumably leaving: the same at about 1100o may, at the moment referred to, be about '850 F., *thel tempera- 4ture inret ort 4, in the next (eleventh) phase, being (in consequence of the reheating., Within supeheater 16", of steam passed through v retorts 1, 2 and. 3, but kept always above its condensing temperatures) in the neighbor- 110 hood of (but presumably below) 800 F. As indicated in the figure referred to,retort 7 may, at this time, be in the 10th phase, retort .10 being in the 9th' phase, whereas retors 2, 5, 8.and 11 are respectively' in the 115 8th,'7th, 6th and 5th phases, and retorts 3, v 6, 9 and 12 are respectively in the .4th,"3rd, 2nd and 1st phases. p

The curve constituting Fig. 2 not being a straight line, it will be appreciated that the rise in temperature within the respective ref; torts, after the 'charging thereof,is mostk rapid in the first and (especially) Athe conloss'of heat, does not pass from any retort directly into a retort in an adjacent phase, as much as possible of the heat resulting from each superheating being utilized, for a vaporizmg or analogous effect, before the same'is returned to a superheater or deliv-4 ered into the main 18.

In'the practice of my invention, the second superheating of each quantity of steam, even though the temperature of the'v respective superheaters 1G, 1G", 16C, and 161"may' be substantially the same, is not effective to produce, in the retort which itneXt enters, quite 0 `(i8 finishe n10 #11: S, 11, 12, 10; S, 3, 1, 2; S, (i, 2, 5; S, 9, 7, 8]'

so high a temperature as that in theretort (in a iinishing phase) to which each quantity of steam is first introduced; and the respective quantities of oil collected by the oil catchers 113, 113?, 113c and1131, or their equivalents, may be expected to vary, freni time to time,`according to the phases of operation of the retorts with which they are'respectively connected; but it is obvious y 1mmaterial to the practice of my inventionwhether the oil caught in the mentioned oil catchers (which may advantageously be kept at atemperature of about 3500 F., more or less) a1e .united with the values delivered through the main 18,01' are otherwise' disposed of. i v

In order to makeperfectly clear the intended sequences of'operation, in .the use of a battery of twelve retort-s subdivided in the indicated manner, I append a tabulation showing the courses followed by successive' fresh quantities of steam admitted, during the finishing phases of thev respective retorts, assuming. the adoption of the suggested order of charging: Starting steam, i

Into #1: s, 1, 2, a; s, 4, 5, a; s, 7, s, a; s, 1o, 11, 12; (.#I-l finished) Y nto #4: S, 4, 5, 6; S, 7, 8, 9; S, 10,11, 12; S, 2, 3,1; (#4 finished) `Into #7: S, 7, 8, 9; S, 10, 11, 12; S, 2, 3,1; S, 5, G, 4; (#7 finished) Into .7i-10: S, 10, 11, 12, S, 2, 3,'1; S, 5, 6, 4; S, 8, 9, 7; (#10 finished) Into #2: S, 2, 3, 1; S, 5, 6, 4; S, 8, 9, 7; S; 11, 12, 10; (#2 finished);

Into #5: S, 5, G, 4.1, S, 8,9, 7; S,`11, 12, l0; S, 3,1, 2;

(#5 finished) Int #815, 8, 9, 7; S, 11, 12, 10; S, 3, 1, 2 S, 64, 5;

( .if 11 finished) Into #3.S,3,1,2; S, 6, 4,5; S, 9,'7,8; S, 12, 10,111;`

Into G'S 5;S,9,7,8;S,12,10,11;S,1,2,3; Into #9: S, 9, 7, 8; S, 12, 10, 11; S, 1,212, 3; S, 4, 5, G; (#9 finished) Into #12;s,.12, 1o, 11;,s, 1, 2, a; s, 4, 5, o; s, 7, 8, 9';

but it will be appreciated/that a larger or smaller number of retorts may be comprised in a battery to -Which the principles of my invention are to be applied, and/or that a battery consisting of twelve retorts (or of any preferred number of retorts) may be subdivided in various ways, provided `that -each subgroup always contains more than one retort and that asequence of theI general a .vapor main character described is observed, and that the steam is kept at ,all times above the tempera- Ature of condensation, under the conditions of -pressure employed,oil being preferably separated from the steam, in each case, before the same Ais .admitted into a superheater.

Among the outstanding advantages of my described process are tue following:

The shale introduced into the respective retorts (preferably preheated in compartments, not shown, through or about which Waste Hue gases are advanced in the gen-` eral manner made known in my lprior applications) needbe subdivided only to an extent sufiicient to facilitate the handling of the same; but it may be further sub-v divided, incidentally'to its advance from the retorts toward vthe superheaters therebelow. Comminution of thehot shale is easily ef fccted at this time, and is favorable to the combustion of any residual fixed carbon,-. which may amount to some 10%, more or less'of the initial carbonfcontent. About 90%, or more, of the kerogen originally presont being obtainable in the form of oil, heat' conservation and high eiiciency may be understood to'be the outstanding advantages of the novel means and methods above outlined.

` Although I have herein described a single preferred embodiment of my invention, it

should Vbe understood not only that various ,method which comprises: dividing said battery of retorts into subgroups leach including more than one retort; providing each of said groups with a steam superheater; carrying a'- steamline having valved branches from a source of suppl past said retorts; carrying pastsaid retorts; providing separate valved aving valved branches alsov communications leading to a common pipe from each of said groups to the associated s uperheater therefor; providing a superheated steam delivery pipe,'extending from each of said superheaters, with valvedbranches leading to the respective inlets of the associated retorts; providing-the outlet of each of said retorts with'a plurality of valved connections additional to the mentioned valved communications with superheaters and leading res ectively to said vapor main and tolanot er retort of the J same subgroup; charging the first retorts in` al1-subgroups and then second retorts in. all

subgroups; socoutinuing; and passing each@ fresh quantity ofsteam successively through 5 'thelretorts of one subgroup', through an oil catcher, through a superheater, andjforuuuxd throughlthevret'orts of another subgroup, andgfinallyfint'o the said main.

` 2. Ini the operationjof a batteryiofretorts for ''etorthg materials 'which .yield hydro i carbon oils when treating with super-heated steam, aA method Which comprises; charging',

sively co'oler retorts not in adjacent temperature phases until said. steam approaches 'its temperature of condensation underthe con-A ditions of operation; l then passing", said steam, but' Without permitting it to condense, through an `oil`catche'r and through a superhea'ter and.' throughedditional re- '.torts, not in. adjvaeentgtemperature vphases#- 25, the contents of' these additional retorts-being respectivelyeooler than 1the correspond` ing retorts first mentioned. y

3. A method o'operating a batter'yof ife- I 'torts for: recovering hydrocarbon values from cih-bearing materials l which comprises subdividingsaid battery ofretorts into like subgroups each including more than oneh'fre- ,between the retorts of each subgrou provv-iding eacha subgroup with a vsuper leater; charging successively first retorts lWithin all toi-#provided'with Variableinterconnctions of said subgroups, then second retorts within V said subgroups, so continuing until all retorts Y. are changed.; and passinglsteam through a superheater,-then throng the retorts of thejfrst subgroup, then-throughan oil catcher fand a superheater, then throughV the' retor'tsl of the secondsubgroup; andy so .continuing until the steam and associated hydrocarl in produts-aredelivered from a lastretort of the last mentioned subgroups.-

In testimony whereof, I'have hereunto set .19th day of January, 1926;

. v j v. MILON J. TBUMBLE.

V' hand at .Los Angeles, California,-"this 

